What 505 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Impala

I WAS DRIVING AND A PART IN MY A/C BEGAN CLICKING LOUDLY, THEN THE AIR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND STARTED SMOKING. A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM WHERE THE A/C BLOWER MOTOR IS AND WITHIN MOMENTS THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11374324

ON MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME AND THE CONTROL ARM ITSELF HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY OFF ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THE WELD THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HOLDING IT ONTO THE FRAME ITSELF WAS A WEAK POINT IN THE WHOLE CROSS MEMBER FRONT K FRAME AND I FOUND IT VERY DANGEROUS I HAVE NO CLUE ON HOW TO FIX THIS AND WAS WONDERING IF YOU GUYS HAD A RECALL ON IT AND ARE WILLING TO FIX IT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS I KNOW THAT I CANNOT HAVE IT REWELDED ON I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AND ALMOST KILLED ME AS I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11373536

I WAS DRIVING AND A COP WAS BEHIND ME AND HE TURNED ON HIS LIGHTS WHEN I NOTICED HIS I TRIED TO MOVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE, AND WHEN I STARTED TO CHANGE LANES MY DRIVER WHEEL LOCKED AND IT SOUNDED AS IF I HIT MY BRAKES AND THE COP HIT ME MY CAR SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND I HIT A TREE.

NHTSA ODI 11321964

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND COLLIDED DIRECTLY INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, NECK, CHEST, AND SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: MP19030877 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11287242

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS OFF AN ON WITH SEVERAL ISSUES I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SENSOR , WIRING, WHEEL, OR OTHER RELATED BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH SERVICE STABIL TRAK, SERVICE AIRBAGS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKING RELATED, ETC. MOST RECENT HAS BEEN WITH SERVICE STABIL TRAK . I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID COMPUTER SHOWED THROTTLE BODY NEEDED REPLACED AND I'VE DONE THAT THEN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER SAME LIGHTS COMING ON ONLY THIS TIME DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S THE RIGHT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR HARNESS BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THAT REPAIRED BECAUSE I AM SEEING IN FORUMS ONLINE OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUES AND IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM NO MATTER WHAT PART OF THE SYSTEM YOU FIX SO I'VE BEEN TURNING OFF TRACTION CONTROL SO I DON'T GET WARNING LIGHTS . VEHICLE ALWAYS IN MOTION WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND AFTER ALL THE ISSUES I'VE HAD AND STILL HAVE I KNOW NOW THAT AN ACCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO IS DEFINITELY RELATED TO ALL THIS . I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND SAW LIGHT WAS YELLOW SO I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP I REMEMBER HAVING MY FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND NEXT THING I KNEW MY CAR HAD SLAMMED INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IT HAPPENED SO FAST I WAS STUNNED AND COULDN'T COMPREHEND WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED AND THE PERSON I HIT WAS A PREGNANT FEMALE WHO WAS VERY UPSET. I TOLD HER I HAD NO IDEA HOW THE INCIDENT COULD'VE HAPPENED WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE WE WERE BOTH ON OUR WAY TO WORK AND SINCE THERE WAS NO REAL PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLES WE JUST EXCHANGED INFO AND HEADED TO WORK. I KNOW NOW IT WAS RELATED TO THIS SOMEHOW AND WISHED I WOULD'VE REPORTED IT. THE CAR HAD ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN!! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH 41,000 MILES (HIGHWAY MILES ) I WAS TOLD IT NOW HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE DONE ALL THE OIL CHANGES AND REQUIRED MAINTENANCE BUT HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSAND HOURS AT DEALERSHIP WITH EVERY ISSUE IMAGINABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11256889

"TAKATA RECALL" VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, WAS PUSHED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND HIT HEAD ON. AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED ADDITIONALLY THE BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT

NHTSA ODI 11072442

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700.

NHTSA ODI 10956520

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE CONTACT'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PROCEEDED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN ITS REAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,595.

NHTSA ODI 10875521

G.M. REPLACED MY INGINTION SWITCH ON A NATIONAL RECALL. I WAS HIT IN LEFT REAR QTR. PANEL. I LOST ALL POWER AND COULD NOT STOP OR STEER THE CAR. I CAREENED ACROSS HIGHWAY AND RAN INTO A HOUSE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EITHER. G.M. SENT A TEAM TO RECOVER COMPUTER INFO AND HAS NOW TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10863980

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, I WAS REAR ENDED, SPUN AROUND TWO TO THREE TIMES; HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON BEFORE COMING TO A STOP; AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE IGNITION RECALL HAD BEEN FIXED OVER THE PAST SUMMER AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 10789128

DRIVING ALONG AND CAR JUST ACCELERATED AND COULD NOT GET IT TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE REDUCE POWER, LOW ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILITY TRAK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO STOP OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN BUT THE CAR SEEMS AS IF IT WAS GETTING FASTING THEN IT MADE A JERK AND I BUMPED MY HEAD AGAINST THE WINDOW, AND MY FOOT GOT STUCK UNDER THE PEDAL AND KNEE GOT JAMMED . MY MOM GOT HURT ALSO AND BEING JERKED BACK AND FORTH.

NHTSA ODI 10720990

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THEIR HANDS AND LEGS, BUT DID RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE IMPACT WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN UPDATED 11/6/15 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10706702

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NOSE AND FACE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOOD AND SIDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 10703869

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND RIGHT HIP INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANKLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/23/15*CN UPDATED 11/9/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10692249

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND ANKLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 10683360

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR DEFOGGER FAILED TO OPERATE BLOCKING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 10670212

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BURNING FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,239.

NHTSA ODI 10652333

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, ARM, AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ODI 10639751

DEC 2013 VEHICLE HIT POT HOLE WHILE BRAKING AT APPROACHING INTERSECTION, AFTER THAT WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ABS BRAKES/TRACT CONTROL/STAB CONTROL, I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, THEN SHUT DOWN. SINCE THEN TEMP GAUGE WENT BAD N WAS REPLACED. THE 3 ABOVE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY, WORSE WHEN IT RAINED. AT TAKE OFFS N TURNS CAR WOULD JAR N ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD PULSATE(GRABS). HUB/SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THIS DID NOT HELP. ACCESSORY OUTLETS, WHEN CONTAINED W A CHARGER, DOESN'T MAINTAIN CONTACT W POWER SOURCE (SUCH AS DISCONNECTION/LOOSE CONNECTION), CAUSING POWER SURGE RESULTING IN 2 IPHONES TO HAVE BAD AUX PORTS. MAY 2014 BLOWER MOTOR STARTED INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING FOR SECONDS, THEN MINUTES UNTIL TODAY SEPT 6TH, 2014 WHEN SOMETHING UNDER-DASH (NEAR BLOWER MOTOR) OVERHEATED FILLING CAR WITH SMOKE, THEN CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE MOVING ONCE AGAIN, CAR SMELLS AWFUL FROM THE BURNING! CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON AND NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN! SEEMS LIKE AUXILIARY ELECT FUSE BOX(PASSENGER RT FOOT BOARD), AND HARNESS IS SHOT AS WELL AS WHICHEVER HARNESS IS SENDING POWER TO SPEED SENSOR, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS I COULD NOT MENTION (PROBLEMS/DEFECTS) DUE TO SO MANY OTHER ISSUES W THIS 2011 IMPALA WHICH IS NOW WORTH 7000 AS TRADE AT CHEVY, I PAID 13500 ON OCT14, 2014! I'VE CHECKED SEVERAL GROUND CONNECTS N THEY SEEM OKAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631294

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, SIDE PANEL, TRUNK, AND REAR BUMPER WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 10/09/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED FUMES WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ROARING NOISES IN THE REAR ON THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED 3/26/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10626591

COMING OFF OF A FREEWAY, THE EXIT IS A WIDE CURVE. ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN (GOING TOWARD THE RIGHT) THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. FORTUNATELY, I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR THROUGH THE REST OF THE CURVE AND PULL OVER TO SAFETY. THE MUSCLING CAUSED MINOR INJURY TO LEFT SHOULDER. CAR DID RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10621703

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN A DODGE RAM 5500 MADE AN IMPROMTU STOP AND MY CAR AN IMPALA 2011 DIDN'T STOP THEREFORE I CRASHED BEHIND THE DODGE RAM 5500. THE IMPALA WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND THE DODGE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DAMAGE AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604430

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED BECAUSE THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 10592818

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISED RIBS AND NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10588586

I WAS ON MY TO WORK AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I OF COURSE LIKE OTHERS SWERVED TO MISS THE ANIMAL CAUSING ME TO ROLL 3 AND A HALF TIMES SIDE TO SIDE WILL WEARING SEATBELT. I RECEIVED SCRATCHES ON LEFT SIDE OF FACE AND STRUCK STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST AT THE BOTTOM OF MY STERNUM. CAUSING SEVERE CHEST PAIN AND SLIGHT PNEUMOTHORAX TO LEFT LUNG AND SOMETHING HAD GOTTEN BEHIND ME CAUSING LEFT BUTTOCK BLACK BRUISING AND BRUISING ON MY SPINE CAUSING SLIGHT PARALYSIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT HAPPENED AND I HAVE PICTURES OF ALL THIS INCLUDING PICTURES OF AIRBAG COMPARTMENTS BUSTED OPEN AND SENSORS SHOWING THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY THEM. I HAD TO BE EXTRICATED FROM CAR AND FLOWN BY HELICOPTER TO TRAUMA CENTER. SEATBELT HELD AT WAIST BUT DID NOT LOCK AT TOP HOLDING ME STILL AT ALL. I STILL HAVE PAIN IN MID STERNUM AREA. THIS CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE IN MY OPINION AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER. I BELIEVE IF AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED AND SEATBELT HELD I WOULD NEVER HAD RECEIVED THESE INJURIES. CAR WAS INSURED AND IN SOME JUNK YARD NOW SOMEWHERE. PLEASE DO GIVE ME A CALL IF YOU WOULD LIKE PICTURES OF ALL THIS AND GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10576902